Magnetic switch



May 6 1924, 1,493,275

E. EONS MAGNETIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 16. 1922 Invent, or: Eugene oms i His Attorneg.

newand useful Improvements in Magnetic Switches, of which the following is a speci- Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

EUGENE FONS, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIG GOM- PANY,- A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MAGNETIC swrrcn.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE Form, a citizenof the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady,

'State'of New York, have invented certain fication. r

My invention relates to improvements in magnetic switches and particularly'to an im proved arrangement foroperating a circuit controlling switch member quickly toward and from the closed circuit position in synchronism with the operation of a comparatively slow moving controlling member.

One of the objects of the invention is'to provide a switch of the character indicated which shall be simple in construction and reliable-in operation, and one. which can be cheaply manufactured. i

In carrying my invention into effect in one form, I provide a pair of relatively movable substantially siinilar magnets disposed with respect to each other so that the poles of opposite polarity are adjacent each other. A. magnetic movable member which controls a switch member is biased away from one of the magnets and is adapted to be magnetically attracted and held by that magnet. When the magnetic movable member takes the form of a soft iron armature, this armatureis adapted to bridge the poles of one of the magnets .and be thus magnetically held against its bias when the othermagnet is at such a position with respect to the first magnet that the magnets have no effect on each other. When the poles of the two'magnets are brought into close proximity .to

each other, the armature is quickly released,

I and when the magnets are again displaced the armature is again attracted against its bias.' The relative movement between the magnets may be quite slow, but the make and break of the circuit controlled by the switch member carried by the armature is quick and positive.

Furthermore if the circuit controlling contacts controlled-by the ma etic movable member are located between t e poles of the magfinets, the magnetic-flux of the. magnets is e ective in, disrupting the-arcs formed between-the contacts.v

For a better; understanding of my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing whereinl have illustrated an em- .in their relative 'with a bodiment of the invention for the purpose of explaining the principles thereof. Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows 'a plan view of a magneticallycontrolled switch which is opened and closed quickly in response to the comparatively slow movement' of the pressure responsive device; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the cross-section line indicated in Fig. 1 with the-switch in its. normal open or biased position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the parts positions when the switch is closed; and Fig. 4 is a detail showing the relative positions of the twom'agnets when the switch is in the closed position.

Referring to the drawings, the switch comprises a switch member 10. which is resiliently connectedto a base 11 of insulating.

material by means of the support 12 whichbiases the movable contacts l3 and 14 of the switch to their respective open positions.

This switch member 10 is connected to a magnetic movable member or armature 15 wlnch is adapted to bridge the poles. of the horseshoe type permanent magnet 16. The

armature 15 is preferably of soft iron having a low permeability. The horseshoe type permanent magnet 17 is substantially similar to the permanent magnet 16,- and these two magnets are disposed with respect to each other so that poles of opposite polarity are'adjacent each other. The two magnets arecapable of having a relative movement with respect to each other by reason of the fact that permanent magnet 17 is secured to the lever 18 which is pivotally mounted at 19. A spring 20, which cooperates with the pivotal support 19 and the lever 18, is pro vided for biasing the lever and the magnet to any predetermined desiredposition. The pressure responsive device 21 is; provided to the ever 18 so that this lever" is recipropiston 22 which is pivotally' connected cated back and forth on its pivot 19 in re- As thus constructed and arranged, the

operation of In invention is brieflyas follows z-When t e lever 18 is'in the position shown in Fig. 1, the poles of the permanent magnet 17 will be'in contact with the poles of the permanent magnet 16, so'that the magneticfluxes' oi the. two magnets supswitch are therebybrought into engagement l with the stationary contacts 23 and'24, and l 25 the magnetic flux of the magnet 16 will have a path of lower reluctance through the armature 15, and this armature will beattracted so as to bridge the poles of the magnet, 16. The contacts 13 and le of the a circuit is thus completed through the switch member 10. The armature 15 will be attractedby the magnet 16 so as to move quickly to the attracted position, and when the magnet 17 is again brought/into en-- gagement with the magnet 16, the armature is quicklyreleased. The make and break of the electric-circuit controlled by the arm'ature 15 is thereby quick and positive even though the movement of the'lever-118 in re- .sponse to the changes of pressure may be comparatively slow. It will also be observed that the *magnetic flux set up by the two magnets will have an effect in magneti cally disrupting the arcs formed between the switch contacts, since these contacts are disposed within the magnetic field set up by the magnets.

The switch is simple in construction and reliable in operation, and it can be cheaply manufactured because of the fact that ithas a comparativelyfew simple parts.,

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the. prin- ,ciple of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof,

but. I desire to have it understood that the a-pparatus'shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be'carried out'by other.-

means. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

'1. A magnetically controlled switch comprising a magnet, a magnetic movable member therefor adapted to be magnetically attracted and held by thesaid magnet, a switch member controlled by the said .mag-

netic member, a second magnet substantially v similar to the first magnet and disposed with respect to the first magnet so that poles of opposite polarity are adjacent each other,

and means for imparting relative movement to the said magnets to control the said magnetic member and switch member.

prising a permanent magnet, an armature therefor adapted to bridge the poles of said magnet, a switchmember carried by the said 2. A magnetically operated switch com-.

armature, a second permanent magnet substantially similar to the first magnet and dis-v posed-with respect to the first'magnet so that poles of opposite polarity are adjacent each oth'er, and means for imparting relative movement to the said magnets to control the said armature and switch member. s I

' 3. A magnetically operated switch comprising a permanent magnet, an armature therefor adapted to bridge the poles of said magnet and biased away from the attracted 1 position, a switch contact member carried by. the saida'rm ature, a second permanent magnet substantially similar to the first magnet and disposed with respect to the first magnet so thatpoles of opposite polar ity are adjacent each other, and means for moving the second magnet out of contacting relation with the poles of the first magnet to magnet'into contacting relation with the bias.

' In' w itnesswhereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of February, 1922.

' EUGENE PONS'.

permit the'said armature to move to the attracted-position and for moving the second poles of the first magnet to permit the said armature torelease in accordance with its 

